Wrapping method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a wrapping method and apparatus in which an article is positioned on a table at one side of a film web withdrawal port. At the other side of the port there is a hotwire web-severing tool and a package rest or support in the form of a narrow, open-ended, outwardly projecting arm. A length of film web is drawn through the port upwardly and forwardly about the article to partially wrap it. The partially wrapped article is then drawn toward the operator to sweep it past the hot wire to cut the web. The article is deposited on the arm, and laterally extending film wings are folded downwardly and around the arm to the undersurface thereof. The article is then transferred to a sealing surface against which the underfolded wings are sealed.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Charles E. Michels Racine, Wis. [21] Appl. No. 662,674 [22] Filed Aug. 23, 1967 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [73] Assignee Wrapping Machinery Company, Inc.

Franksville, Wis.

[54] WRAPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS 17 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 53/33, 53/219,53/390 [51] Int. Cl B65b 67/08 [50] Field of Search 53/33, 390, 219

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,176,443 4/1965 Klamp 53/390 3,263,392 8/1966 Petrellaetal 3,358,420 12/1967 Fellneretal ABSTRACT: Disclosed herein is a wrapping method and apparatus in which an article is positioned on a table at one side of a film web withdrawal port. At the other side of the port there is a hot-wire web-severing tool and a package rest or support in the form of a narrow, open-ended, outwardly projecting arm. A length of film web is drawn through the port upwardly and forwardly about the article to partially wrap it. The partially wrapped article is then drawn toward the operator to sweep it past the hot wire to cut the web. The article is deposited on the arm, and laterally extending film wings are folded downwardly and around the arm to the undersurface thereof. The article is then transferred to a sealing surface against which the underfolded wings are sealed.

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ATTORNE n PING METHODAND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves improvements on the hotwire web-severing devices.

In accordance with the present invention, an open-ended, outwardly projecting, cantilevered support arm or package rest is associated with a wrapping table to facilitate the terminal steps in the wrapping process. The article is partially wrapped on the table by drawing a length of web through a port between the article and the hot wire, and looping it partially around the article to leave laterally extending, unfolded film wings. The wings are used as handles to transfer the article to the support arm and to exert snugging tension on the film. The arm is used to control and support the partially wrapped package as the laterally extending film wings are folded downwardly and to the undersurface of the arm. The article is then withdrawn endwise over the open end of the arm and transferred to a traveling heated belt which heat seals the wings to the bottom of the package.

By using the arm the operator can control the package without releasing his grasp on the film wings until the package is substantially completely formed. The wrapping procedure is speeded, and the operator is not required to shift the package from one hand to the other in the course of folding the wings.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical fragmentary cross section taken through v the apparatus of FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

FIGS. 1, 2 and3 illustrate one of several possible different arrangements in which a wrapping table is associated with a heated traveling belt 21. The belt can move past the table, or away from it, as shown.

Table 20 is desirably provided with an article prop 22 which is adjustable along the slot 23 toward and away from stop 28. Prop 22 supports an article 24 with its edge remote from the operator slightly elevated. The article 24 can have various sizes and shapes. It typically comprises a tray of food, such as meat or produce, as commonly appears in display cases in supennarkets.

Table 20 is supported on legs 25 which also support supply rolls 26, 27 of transparent wrapping film 30. This film will typically consist of PVC thermoplastic film or variations thereof known in the trade as soft or shrink" film. As best shown in FIG. 2, a film web 30 drawn from roll 27 is trained through a withdrawal port 31 in which there are a series of guide rollers 32, 33, 34 and a guide bar 35. Bar 35 has a plastic surface to which the film tends to adhere. Adjacent bar 35 is a hotwire severing tool 36 suitably mounted on end brackets 37.

At a lower level and projecting rearwardly or outwardly toward the operator is a package rest in the form of a thin, narrow, open-ended support arm 38. Arm 38 has one end in cantilever connection to frame crosspiece 39.

The article 24 is wider than arm 38 and is narrower than the web 30, as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Accordingly, when the film 30 is partially wrapped around the article 24, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, film wings 44 project laterally of the article. These film wings 44 are used by the operator as handles for further manipulation of the article.

The wrapping sequence is shown in FIGS. 4 through 15. The article 24 is first positioned on table 20 on prop 22 and against stop 28, as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 9. The operator utilizes his hands 41 to grasp the web 30 near its lateral margins and draw it from the port 31 upwardly in the direction of arrow 42 so that it intervenes between himself and the article 24. After a suitable length of film'web 30 has thus been withdrawn from the port 3l,it will be looped forwardly away from the operator, partially around the article 24, and beneath the upwardly exposed remote edge of the article 24. This motion is indicated by arrow 43 in FIG. 10. During this motion the film 30 is slack. No additional film will be drawn from port 31. This motion also produces extending film wings 44 at both sides of the package.

The operator will then shift the grip of his hands 41 to the wings 44 and will utilize these wings as handles to exert lateral tension onthe film and to draw the article 24 toward himself in the direction of arrow 46, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11. This movement withdraws an additional length of web 30 from the roll. 4

The operator then lowers the article 24 onto the support arm 38 in the direction of arrow 47 in FIG. 7. In the course of this downward movement the web 30 sweeps past the hot-wire severing tool 36 to sever the web at 45, as shown in FIG. 12. The web 30 retracts slightly from wire 36 and will adhere to bar 35 in position for the next wrapping sequence. The side edges of the article overhang the side edges of the arm 38.

Arm 38 provides a control reaction surface against which the operator can exert downward tension on the overhanging wings 44 as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 12, without releasing his grasp on the film wings. Film tension is maintained to stretch the film slightly, remove wrinkles, etc.

The operator will then fold the downwardly extending wings 44 inwardly beneath the article 24 and beneath the arm 38 by moving his hands 41 toward one another in the direction of arrows 48, 49 in FIG. 14. This brings the wings 44 to the undersurface of the package 24 and beneath the arm 38. The operator may pull the package endwise off of the arm 38 without changing his grip or he may transfer his grip to the edges of the package 24, as indicated in FIG. 15, and pull the package endwise off of the open end of the arm 38. This releases the arm 38 from the embrace of the folded wings 44.

The completely folded and wrapped package is then deposited on the heated belt 21, as shown in FIG. 1, which will heat-seal the underfolded wings 44 to the bottom of the package which will, at the same time, convey the package to a shrink tunnel, automatic labeler, collection bin, or the like.

I claim:

I. A method of wrapping articles in film drawn from a supply roll, said film being wider than the article, said method comprising the steps of positioning the article on a table, withdrawing a length of film web from the roll into the space between the operator and the article thus positioned, looping the withdrawn length of film web away from the operator and over and partially about the article, thus to partially wrap the article in film with film wings extending laterally therefrom, drawing the article toward the operator, sweeping the web past a severing tool to cut the web, depositing the article on an open-ended support arm narrower than the article, folding said film wings downwardly toward the underside of said arm, and transferring said article to a sealing surface against which the underfolded wings are engaged to seal the package.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the operator draws the article toward himself by grasping the laterally extending film wings and uses these wings as handles for manipulating the article.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the underfolded wings embrace the arm, said article being withdrawn endwise over the exposed end of the arm in the course of transferring it to said sealing surface.

4. The method of claim 1 in which said sealing surface is moved away from the operator to convey the article during the course of forming said seal.

5. The method of claim 1 in which said article is propped up on said table to elevate its edge opposite the operator to facilitate looping the film web about the article.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the film is tensioned laterally in the course of transferring the article from the table to the support arm.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the film web is looped over the article without further withdrawing film web from the roll and in which drawing the article toward the operator withdraws an added length of web from the roll.

8. Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, soft and thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising, a frame having an upper end located at a height convenient for an operator standing at a rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper end and at a front side thereof which is opposite to that rear side at which said operator stands, said first support adapted to support an article while being overwrapped, a second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said supports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said first support and said severing means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may be drawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from said frame and overwrapping the article on said first support, said severing means adapted to sever material moved thereagainst after the overwrapped article is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means towards said second support, said second support being of a lateral width less than said passage means and less than that of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance under the laterally opposite sides of an article resting thereon.

9. Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, soft and thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising; a frame having a front side, a rear side, laterally opposite sides, and also having an upper end located at a height convenient for an operator standing at said rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper end and front side of said frame, said first support being of a lateral width less than that of the article to be wrapped so that the lateral sides of the latter extend laterally beyond the sides of said first support, said first support also being positioned so that there is clearance beneath said laterally extending sides of said article when on said first support, a second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said supports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said first support and said severing means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may be drawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from said frame and over an article on said first support, and over the article front edge which is remote from said operator and then beneath said laterally extending sides of said article, said second support also being of a lateral width less than said passage means and also less than that of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance underthe laterally opposite sides of the article resting thereon, said severing means adapted to sever the material extending from the partially wrapped article after the latter is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means and placed on said second support.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that said second support comprises an elevated pedestal located below the height of said severing means.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further characterized in that said second support comprises an elevated pedestal located below the height of said severing means.

12. A wrapping apparatus comprising, a package-supporting means for supporting an article to be wrapped in plastic wrapping material, said article including a flat tray support; passage means extending laterally across the rear end of said supporting means, means for storing a roll of plastic sheet material below said supporting means; the end of said plastic sheet material being adapted to be drawn upward through said passage means adjacent one edge of said supporting means and over the top of an article located on the supporting means; a severing device for severing the plastic sheet material moved thereagainst disposed adjacent the said one edge of the supporting means, below its upper surface; and a support pedestal disposed on the other side of said severing device; said support pedestal being of such size and location that a package placed on the pedestal can be tightly underwrapped in the wrapping paper, said pedestal also being of a lateral width less than that of said passage means.

13. A method of hand wrapping an article in a soft, flexible and thermoplastic material comprising, supporting the article to be wrapped; drawing said material from a supply and away from the operator and completely over the article and over the edge of the article located remote from the operator to thereby overwrap the article; moving the resulting overwrapped article toward the operator to thereby underwrap it and simultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directions to stretch the material smoothly across the bottom of the article; supporting the partially wrapped article on a second support in such a manner that the lateral sides of said article extend freely beyond said second support, and substantially simultaneously urging that material extending from the partially wrapped article against a heated severing means to sever said material from said supply, pressing the lateral ends of the wrapped material toward one another and smoothly along the bottom side of the package so formed, and then heat-sealing the bottom of the package.

14. A method of hand wrapping an article in a soft, flexible and thermoplastic material and with one substantially continuous movement of the operators hands, said method comprising, supporting the article to be wrapped so that its lateral sides are unobstructed and have clearance thereunder for the operator's fingers; drawing said material from a supply and upwardly between said operator and said article, then away from the operator and completely over the article, then downwardly over the edge of the article located remote from the operator and then toward the operator to thereby overwrap the article; lifting the partially wrapped package toward the operator and toward a second support and simultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directions to stretch the material smoothly across the bottom of the article which is thereby underwrapped; placing the partially wrapped article on said second support in such a manner that the lateral sides of said article extend freely beyond said support, and substantially simultaneously urging that material extending from the the bottom side of the package so formed, and then heat-sealing the bottom of the package.

15. A method of wrapping an article having a flat bottom in a soft film wrapping material using a table having in sequence an angled article support, a wrapping material feed slot, a hot wire cutter and a pedestal comprising the steps of placing an article to be wrapped on the angled support, grasping the cor ners of the free end of a roll of soft film and pulling the strip of soft film over the article far enough for the free end to underwrap the article; moving the article toward the pedestal to draw the film across the bottom of the article; placing the article on the pedestal with the trailing edge in close proximity to the wire to sever the soft film; pulling the ends of the material wrapped on the package outward to stretch the material; folding the ends under the article with the material drawn tightly across the bottom edges of the article in sealing engagement therewith; and placing the wrapped article on a hot belt to seal the bottom of the article.

16. Wrapping apparatus comprising:

a table to support an article during initial partial wrapping operations thereon,

a film-severing tool at one side of the table,

a support for a film roll,

a film-web-withdrawing port between the table and tool and through which a web of film from the roll is drawn in the course of looping the web over the article on the table to leave laterally extending unfolded film wings at the sides of the article,

and an open ended package rest at the side of the tool opposite the table and in the path of transfer of the partially wrapped article from the table,

said package rest comprising a control reaction surface to support the partially wrapped article as said film wings are folded down around the edges of the package rest and up toward the underside of the package rest in the course of continuing the wrapping of the article.

17. The wrapping apparatus of claim 16 in which the table has a prop to elevate that edge of an article on the table which is remote from the film-withdrawing port, thus to facilitate partial wrapping of the film beneath the article while it is sup ported on the prop. 

1. A method of wrapping articles in film drawn from a supply roll, said film being wider than the article, said method comprising the steps of positioning the article on a table, withdrawing a length of film web from the roll into the space between the operator and the article thus positioned, looping the withdrawn length of film web away from the operator and over and partially about the article, thus to partially wrap the article in film with film wings extending laterally therefrom, drawing the article toward the operator, sweeping the web past a severing tool to cut the web, depositing the article on an open-ended support arm narrower than the article, folding said film wings downwardly toward the underside of said arm, and transferring said article to a sealing surface against which the underfolded wings are engaged to seal the package.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the operator draws the article toward himself by grasping the laterally extending film wings and uses these wings as handles for manipulating the article.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which the underfolded wings embrace the arm, said article being withdrawn endwise over the exposed end of the arm in the course of transferring it to said sealing surface.
 4. The method of claim 1 in which said sealing surface is moved away from the operator to convey the article during the course of forming said seal.
 5. The method of claim 1 in which said article is propped up on said table to elevate its edge opposite the operator to facilitate looping the film web about the article.
 6. The method of claim 1 in which the film is tensioned laterally in the course of transferring the article from the table to the support arm.
 7. The method of claim 1 in which the film web is looped over the article without further withdrawing film web from the roll and in which drawing the article toward the operator withdraws an added length of web from the roll.
 8. Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, soft and thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising, a frame having an upper end located at a height convenient for an operator standing at a rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper end and at a front side thereof which is opposite to that rear side at which said operator stands, said first support adapted to support an article while being overwrapped, a second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said supports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said first support and said severing means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may be drawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from said frame and overwrapping the article on said first support, said severing means adapted to sever material moved thereagainst after the overwrapped article is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means towards said second support, saId second support being of a lateral width less than said passage means and less than that of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance under the laterally opposite sides of an article resting thereon.
 9. Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible, soft and thermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising; a frame having a front side, a rear side, laterally opposite sides, and also having an upper end located at a height convenient for an operator standing at said rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper end and front side of said frame, said first support being of a lateral width less than that of the article to be wrapped so that the lateral sides of the latter extend laterally beyond the sides of said first support, said first support also being positioned so that there is clearance beneath said laterally extending sides of said article when on said first support, a second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and located adjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said supports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, and passage means extending laterally across said upper end of said frame and located between said first support and said severing means whereby a leading edge of said wrapping material may be drawn by said operator upwardly through said passage means from said frame and over an article on said first support, and over the article front edge which is remote from said operator and then beneath said laterally extending sides of said article, said second support also being of a lateral width less than said passage means and also less than that of the article to be wrapped and mounted to provide clearance under the laterally opposite sides of the article resting thereon, said severing means adapted to sever the material extending from the partially wrapped article after the latter is underwrapped by being moved over said severing means and placed on said second support.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that said second support comprises an elevated pedestal located below the height of said severing means.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further characterized in that said second support comprises an elevated pedestal located below the height of said severing means.
 12. A wrapping apparatus comprising, a package-supporting means for supporting an article to be wrapped in plastic wrapping material, said article including a flat tray support; passage means extending laterally across the rear end of said supporting means, means for storing a roll of plastic sheet material below said supporting means; the end of said plastic sheet material being adapted to be drawn upward through said passage means adjacent one edge of said supporting means and over the top of an article located on the supporting means; a severing device for severing the plastic sheet material moved thereagainst disposed adjacent the said one edge of the supporting means, below its upper surface; and a support pedestal disposed on the other side of said severing device; said support pedestal being of such size and location that a package placed on the pedestal can be tightly underwrapped in the wrapping paper, said pedestal also being of a lateral width less than that of said passage means.
 13. A method of hand wrapping an article in a soft, flexible and thermoplastic material comprising, supporting the article to be wrapped; drawing said material from a supply and away from the operator and completely over the article and over the edge of the article located remote from the operator to thereby overwrap the article; moving the resulting overwrapped article toward the operator to thereby underwrap it and simultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directions to stretch the material smoothly across the bottom of the article; supporting the partially wrapped article on A second support in such a manner that the lateral sides of said article extend freely beyond said second support, and substantially simultaneously urging that material extending from the partially wrapped article against a heated severing means to sever said material from said supply, pressing the lateral ends of the wrapped material toward one another and smoothly along the bottom side of the package so formed, and then heat-sealing the bottom of the package.
 14. A method of hand wrapping an article in a soft, flexible and thermoplastic material and with one substantially continuous movement of the operator''s hands, said method comprising, supporting the article to be wrapped so that its lateral sides are unobstructed and have clearance thereunder for the operator''s fingers; drawing said material from a supply and upwardly between said operator and said article, then away from the operator and completely over the article, then downwardly over the edge of the article located remote from the operator and then toward the operator to thereby overwrap the article; lifting the partially wrapped package toward the operator and toward a second support and simultaneously pulling the material in laterally opposite directions to stretch the material smoothly across the bottom of the article which is thereby underwrapped; placing the partially wrapped article on said second support in such a manner that the lateral sides of said article extend freely beyond said support, and substantially simultaneously urging that material extending from the partially wrapped article against a heated severing means to sever said material from said supply, pressing the lateral ends of the wrapped material toward one another smoothly along the bottom side of the package so formed, and then heat-sealing the bottom of the package.
 15. A method of wrapping an article having a flat bottom in a soft film wrapping material using a table having in sequence an angled article support, a wrapping material feed slot, a hot wire cutter and a pedestal comprising the steps of placing an article to be wrapped on the angled support, grasping the corners of the free end of a roll of soft film and pulling the strip of soft film over the article far enough for the free end to underwrap the article; moving the article toward the pedestal to draw the film across the bottom of the article; placing the article on the pedestal with the trailing edge in close proximity to the wire to sever the soft film; pulling the ends of the material wrapped on the package outward to stretch the material; folding the ends under the article with the material drawn tightly across the bottom edges of the article in sealing engagement therewith; and placing the wrapped article on a hot belt to seal the bottom of the article.
 16. Wrapping apparatus comprising: a table to support an article during initial partial wrapping operations thereon, a film-severing tool at one side of the table, a support for a film roll, a film-web-withdrawing port between the table and tool and through which a web of film from the roll is drawn in the course of looping the web over the article on the table to leave laterally extending unfolded film wings at the sides of the article, and an open ended package rest at the side of the tool opposite the table and in the path of transfer of the partially wrapped article from the table, said package rest comprising a control reaction surface to support the partially wrapped article as said film wings are folded down around the edges of the package rest and up toward the underside of the package rest in the course of continuing the wrapping of the article.
 17. The wrapping apparatus of claim 16 in which the table has a prop to elevate that edge of an article on the table which is remote from the film-withdrawing port, thus to facilitate partial wrapping of the film beneath the article while it is supported on the prop. 